Garden-Helper Blog

Gardening in Tough Financial Times

2008-05-22T13:12:00.002-04:00

The cost of everything is going up and the value of the dollar is declining. Oil is at an all-time high, food prices are rising dramatically and energy sources are beginning to reach their peak. I am interested in hearing stories about people who are planting gardens to fend off the high cost of food in these times. Are you new to gardening? Is this your first kitchen garden?

Has Spring Sprung Where You Are?

2008-03-26T19:00:00.003-04:00

Here in the far north of Zone 4 there is still snow on the ground, with more in the forecast. I have started my planning for the coming year even though the garden is buried under two feet of ice and snow.

We have some potted bulbs brightening the indoors and my sights are set on adding lots of new content to the site this Spring.

So ... has Spring sprung in your neck of the woods? Are you excited? What are your garden plans like this year?

Reel Mowers

2007-06-13T15:41:00.000-04:00

We are really pleased to be able to announce we are now carrying Sunlawn Reel Mowers here on Garden-Helper and are able to offer them for sale at fantastic prices to our visitors. If you are in the market for a reel mower then please compare and then come back to buy your reel mower through us at Garden-Helper.

Cosmos

2007-05-12T11:45:00.000-04:00

Hi all, just wanted to let you know that I've added a new plant page about the flower Cosmos. Wanting to know how to care for them? Learn how to grow cosmos with our guide.

May Gardening Calendar

2007-05-03T14:53:00.000-04:00

For those of you looking for what to do in the garden this month check our May Gardening Calendar.

Learning From Your Weeds

2007-03-27T14:46:00.000-04:00

So you have a grand plan to tear out the weeds and start planting your dream garden. Great! But wait! Before you go digging up those weeds take a few minutes to examine the weeds you have growing and learn what you can about your soil conditions from the weeds you have.

We have a new article Learning From Your Weeds which discusses this subject. Our Indicator Weeds and Soil Conditions table outlines the story your weeds can tell you about your soil. Both of these together can help you gain some insight into your soil conditions.

Okay. Go dig.

Cheers!

Water, water everywhere

2007-03-26T22:35:00.000-04:00

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink ... or at least not over the computer. We've assembled some great products over in the shopping section for Irrigation and Watering supplies. If you've been thinking about drip irrigation this year there are some great deals to be had.

Personally of all the expenses this year for the garden I think this may be the one I am most likely to go for.

We also have a few garden hoses - sturdy, lengthy and not too expensive as well as some unique watering cans - not whimsical stuff but rather uniquely utilitarian.

You Say Tomato I Say Tomato Tomato Tomato

2007-03-15T22:44:00.000-04:00

Of course when I think about spring (and as it gets closer it seems I cannot stop thinking about it) I think of snowdrops, daffodils and other early risers, but spring thoughts lead to tomato starts and this year is looking to be a good one (in my imaginations).

With tomatoes on the mind I have added a few things to the site you may want to check out:

There are a couple more tomato related pages in the works which I will of course announce here. I'd love to hear about your experiences growing tomatoes and look forward to sharing ours.

Greenhouses

2007-03-07T22:11:00.000-05:00

Here it is in snowy and VERY frigid Vermont and spring seems an eternity away, but the desire to get things started is eating at me. I started thinking about season extension and greenhouses and figured there may be many others out there in the same boat. So if you are considering a greenhouse then please take a peek at our new Greenhouse and Greenhouse Supply section for some great deals on bringing spring a bit sooner.

Let There Be Spring

2007-03-01T23:37:00.000-05:00

For many folks fortunate enough to live somewhere other than the colder northern climates Spring is fast approaching and with it the itch to get digging.

The March Gardening Calendar and Planting Guide for March is now available on the garden-helper site as is the March Gardening Podcast.

So though up here in Zone 4 we are buried under snow and looking at more now coming soon, I certainly hope to hear from folks who are starting the ritual of a new growing season.

One great place to share your thoughts and experiences this spring is the Garden-Helper forums. I hope to see you there!

All New Forums!

2007-01-22T12:37:00.000-05:00

For quite some time we have wanted to replace the existing forums on garden-helper with a better solution. We have now done this and are happy to have opened our new gardening forums for your participation. We expect the new software to be much more user friendly and hope to encourage more folks to post to the forums.

Composting - Food for the Garden

2007-01-04T21:16:00.000-05:00

Great new article on the site about composting for the garden. Hope you will check it out!

Gardening In January

2007-01-03T13:14:00.000-05:00

The January Gardening Calendar and Gardening Podcast are available here on Garden-Helper.com for all those whose New Years' Resolution involved having a better garden this year.

It is not too early to start planning your garden and we hope you will take the time to look into the many articles and tools we offer to make your garden a success in 2007.

What To Plant In December

2006-12-13T15:50:00.000-05:00

The list of what to plant in December is now available on Garden-Helper.com

Additionally the December Gardening Calendar and December Gardening Podcast are also available on the site.

What To Plant in November

2006-10-31T13:06:00.000-05:00

The list of what to plant in November is now available on Garden-Helper.com

Additionally the November Gardening Calendar and November Gardening Podcast are also available on the site.

New Plant Pages - Lillies and Heather

2006-10-31T12:56:00.000-05:00

We have added two new plant pages to Garden-Helper expanding the offerings beyond herbs and vegetables and into flowers and shrubs.

The new shrub page is on growing heather.

The new flower page is about gardening lillies

Shopping at Garden-Helper: 1500 new items!

2006-10-21T14:24:00.000-04:00

We have added 1500 - yes - FIFTEEN HUNDRED new items available through the Garden-Helper shopping section. From fruit trees and shrubs to solar lights and tools we now offer a wide variety of plants, tools and gifts for you. By teaming up with Nature Hills Nursey we are now able to provide this great array of items for every gardener.

Check out the new Shopping Homepage and start browsing!

Your purchases go toward helping us grow the Garden-Helper.com website.

Interactive Vegetable Garden Troubleshooter

2006-10-13T10:20:00.000-04:00

We are pleased as punch to bring you the Interactive Vegetable Garden Troubleshooter .

If you have vegetables that are showing signs of attack from pests or diseases then the troubleshooter can help you identify the problem!

Currently this works for symptoms visible from leaves only, but soon we will be adding Roots, Fruits and Stems as well. Additionally we are working on creating pages to describe in detail the pests and diseases the troubleshooter identifies.

So, give it a whirl and keep it mind for next season and please offer your suggestions as we work to improve and expand on the tool.

Garden Pests - Aphids and Rabbits

2006-10-12T16:39:00.000-04:00

Today we introduce another new page type on Garden-Helper: the pest pages. Like the detailed plant information pages we now offer information on garden pests. We start off with two garden pests:

Rabbits and Aphids

Expect more soon!

If you have any information or questions or suggestions about the garden pest pages please let us know!

Caring for Plants Brought Indoors - Light and Water

2006-10-10T16:24:00.000-04:00

Wondering how you might be able to bring some of the garden indoors for the winter? It's not as simple as just digging up and bringing plants indoors. I thought I'd give a couple hints on managing this transition to indoor winter gardening regarding the two most common issues for plants being brought indoors - light and water.

The first thing to tackle is the provision of light for your plants. Many indoor environments lack sufficient light for growing plants. If your space does not provide sufficient light then you may have to consider artificial sources of light. Some plants that require only very minimal lighting include Boston ferns and of course the ubiquitous Philodendron.

Signs to look for regarding poor light conditions include pale leaves and leaves and stems that are smaller in size than normal.

When it comes to watering simply make sure to water the your plants completely such that they drain out the bottom. Common issues with watering include under or over watering. Keep in mind especially in colder climates that indoor heating is likely to dry out plants rather quickly.

Farm and Garden Profiles

2006-10-05T10:14:00.000-04:00

We've just launched a new page type on Garden-Helper called Farm and Garden profiles. Our first feature is Earthwise Farm and Forest here in Vermont. We anticipate visiting gardens, farms and Community Supported Agriculture farms and highlighting the operations and gardens on the site.

If you are a garderner with an interest in having us visit your slice of heaven don't be shy - let us know!

Although our resources currently prevent us from traveling the country we would certainly entertain free plane or train rides!

See Earthwise Farm and Forest for our first look into the garderner community.

October Gardening Calendar and Podcast

2006-09-27T15:56:00.000-04:00

October approaches and though the days grow cooler and shorter the list of chores for the garden remains steady.

The October Gardening Calendar and Podcast are now available as is the What To Plant In October page.

Two New Articles

2006-08-29T21:24:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again when crops from the garden are filling our kitchens faster than we can fill th eplates of those we serve. For a look into some basic canning and preserving facts check out the latest article on preserving the bounty of your harvest.

Additionally we have an article about gardening for cut flower bouquets.

Artichokes are a Beautiful Thing

2006-08-29T15:51:00.000-04:00

Artichokes are one of the things the love of my life thanks her mother for - for exposing her at a young age to the wonderous vegetable that sees far too little attention. Grown in the coastal regions of California (wine anyone?) artichokes are a splendid addition to many gardens. Now they are also an addition to the Plant Pages

Learn about how to care for artichokes in your garden and don't forget to thank your mother.

The Foolproof Way to Water

2006-07-13T07:28:00.000-04:00

One of the more confusing things about taking care of a yard and garden is determining how to water it. Many people water at the wrong time of day, and much of the water is wasted in evaporation. Optimum watering time is early morning of evening. Many people water too much or too little, or do not distribute the water evenly over their garden and lawn.

To begin with, it is important to know the quality and consistancy of your soil. Sandy soil dries quickly and the plants would need more frequent watering. Clay soil can only take a short watering session before run-off occurs. The general rule of thumb for lawn health is one inch of water each week. This can be easily determined by placing an empty can - anything that is a perfect cylinder - in the area of your sprinkler. When there is an inch of water in the can, you have given your grass an inch of water.

Watering gardens is a little different. Many people do water their gardens right along with their lawns. That is convenient and easy. However, some plants may be succeptable to fungus or other diseases if the water is left on their leaves. Soaker hoses and drip irrigation, laid at the roots of your plants, is an excellent way to combat this.

Conserving water already in the soil is an excellent way to avoid having to water frequently, especially in hot summer months when water restrictions may be put into place. Mulch traps moisture in the soil, as do ground cover plants. Cut your grass two to three inches long in the summer months. Things stay damp longer in the shade!

With a little planning, watering your garden and lawn won't waste either the water itself or your time and energy.